Manowar rickensomething

[nofi]

video grabbed from uwe's deep purple link

http://tvtotal.prosieben.de/tvtotal/videos/player/index.html?contentId=135663&initialTab=related&showId=1889-00

joey looks distracted. don't worry, your mom will let you crash in her basement as always.     

[ilan]

That is one weird mod. I have no idea why would anyone want to play like that.

[Paul Boyer]

I'm pretty sure it is not a modified Rickenbacker, but a custom-built bass that has some Rick shapes. Obviously, the neck is much longer and narrower, and none of the hardware is Rick-like.

[nofi]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=joey's+manowar+rickenbacker+bass&qpvt=joey%27s+manowar+rickenbacker+bass&FORM=IGRE

[godofthunder]

I have read about this poor bass before as I understand it it is a Ric and has gone through many levels of modification.

[the mojo hobo]

The upper horn is too long for a Ric. I'd say it is a custom build with Rickish features. And like the rest of us he isn't happy with just one.

[Dave W]

The photos of the neck look skinnier than a Rick neck. Maybe that could have been one of the modifications, if it's really a Rick.

[Paul Boyer]

Yeah, and 24 frets just to the body joint of that 8-banger. Not a Rick, but a Rick "tribute."

[ilan]

It's the Ricky Shredder bass.

[uwe]

That is its purpose. Death to false Shreddahs, Flight of the Bumble Bee forevvah!!!



And you thought his assless chaps were the silliest thing on him.

Joey was pre-Manowar Geezer Butler's bass tech, where he met Ross the Boss, then already ex Dictators and with French Sabs-opening act Shaking Street (but unhappy there). The idea that a bass with guitar gauge strings and narrowness of neck would enable him to shred must have been born already then though it can have scarcely come from his experiences with Geezer. Initially he just changed the nut and modded the bridge on his Rics and other basses (an Epi EB of his thus modded was on Ebay some years ago) so that four (almost) guitar gauge strings would be very close together (he's a pick player) with much of the original fretboard unused.

That skinnie minnie mock Ric was a development from that. It is a boutique product with no original Ric content. He not only uses it to shred in his bass solo extravaganza but also when playing the regular songs. I'd imagine that - contrary to his manly image - he must be an extremely light player on those basses to have a decent signal which is then heavily processed for his bass sound. Which is probably why he prefers more conventional tools in the (mom's cellar) studio.



And the truss rod of that skinnie minnie mock Ric must be pure titanium even with thin strings.

"Don't worry, your mom will let you crash in her basement as always ..."

Nofi, you're mean, but funny!  

Joey would make a great Soprano these days if he dumped his warrior wig.

[nofi]

i read an article about mano after their star had descended. joey and the band had menial jobs back on long island and joey did live with his mom. i guess its that whole italian family thing. in the summers they would get together and hit the big outdoor eurofests. rock star again for three months. i don't know what the deal with them now is.

[uwe]

Well, Joey's acting career on German TV is doing fine (and the guy does seem to have a sense of humor).




Manowar - like Anvil - have something heart-moving. They stick to what they do. They have a devoted following in Germany and are seen as a real people's band by their fans (more women than you might think too). If you take away assless chaps, nonsense escapist crap lyrics and girlie gauge bass strings, this is what I respect them for. As for the music, it's unimaginative melodic metal, but I've heard worse, it's done with some attention to detail and love to the craft.

[Basvarken]

assless chaps
nonsense escapist crap lyrics
and girlie gauge bass strings
unimaginative melodic metal

yep. nuff said

[ilan]

Technique-wise only, as a pick player myself, I sure would like to be able to shred like that.

[uwe]

You'd get fired from all your bands, Ilan! Speed has its place and I'd like to be able to play faster too, but Joey's shredding is a one trick pony. Designed to impress in his solo spot, nothing more. His normal bass playing within songs is meat and potatoes, he is not a Steve Harris who ornaments his regular playing with flashy runs.

I don't like his shredding sound at all - no beef or warmth. And that flight of the bumblebee melody is just cartoonish and not that accurately played either.